Tough At The Top!

I’m pleased that after 10 games, we’re within touching distance and every option is available to us"

Kenny Jackett

Wolves return to action tomorrow with a challenge from Head Coach Kenny Jackett to keep themselves up with the pace at the top of Sky Bet League One.

Having had last Saturday’s game with Carlisle postponed due to international call-ups, third placed Wolves saw top two Leyton Orient and Peterborough continue their own excellent start to the season with another three points apiece.

But having made an excellent start to the season with 25 points from the first 10 games, Jackett is pleased with how Wolves have kicked off.

“After 10 games we couldn’t have got promoted but we could have been out of it so I’m pleased to say we’re in there competing, which is good,” he says.

“There are some good signs for us going forwards and some things we need to improve on and it’s very important that we identify those correctly internally and make the right decisions and work very hard to continue to improve.

“When you’re looking at the division and you see clubs the size of Sheffield United and Bristol City in the bottom two of the division, the points difference already from the top two suggests it’s looking towards another season (before they can get promoted).

“I’m pleased that after 10 games, we’re within touching distance and every option is available to us.

“With losing a fixture last weekend, it’s vital we keep up with teams such as Leyton Orient and Peterborough and make sure that gap doesn’t stretch.

“We can’t afford any slip-ups – when you see us now playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday, that nine points in eight days is a big one for us and we’re looking forward to it.

“I think in terms of the league, we’ve got a number of things right.

“We’re looking to continue to improve and a good run at home – we have three of our next four games here - can see us keep pace with the top teams in League One.”

Wolves have got a clean bill of health from the players who have returned from international duty, while Samuel Ricketts and Matt Doherty are also expected to be fit after knee and groin injuries respectively.

“They’re both looking fine,” said Jackett.

“We’re expecting them to have no further problems and hopefully they will be available for selection.

“Both trained yesterday.

“There has been a concern, particularly with Ricketts, but yesterday was the crunch day and they both seem o-k.

“They’re both very good players and consistent ones too right from the start to the season.

“So we’ve got no problems with anyone.

“Doyle played both games and I was pleased for him to get back in.

“He was left out for a number of games and to get two caps - hopefully he can retain his place.”

Jackett meanwhile has said he will need all the squad ready, willing and able heading into a busy spell of fixtures.

He said: “We play Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday then miss a week then play Saturday and Tuesday.

“So if you look at the five games coming up which takes us to the Carlisle game on Tuesday, November 5, and then it’s the FA Cup, so we ring those five games, get the squad together, and the team will undoubtedly change.

“There will be substitutions and we’ll perhaps change formation within that as well.

“But out of these five games we want a very good points total and the team I start with won’t be the side I finish with against Carlisle.

“The important thing is that as a group of 18 or 20 players, they focus on getting as many points as possible.”